Tampa Bay Rays news and links: Archer won’t return to WBC

Team USA told Chris Archer not to come to LA to potentially pitch in the World Baseball Classic finals. Marc Topkin reports that this is based on the conflict between the Rays pitching schedule for Archer, and the WBC schedule. Archer was only set to be available on Wednesday, but the Rays need to win a semifinal game against Japan on Tuesday to qualify.

Archer is reportedly disappointed, as are Rays fans who also care about the WBC, but this decision makes a certain amount of sense. The real moral here is one everyone already knows: don’t hold a major international tournament during Spring Training.

Marcus Stroman is scheduled to pitch for the USA on Wednesday.

Links

• Still, this WBC has been fun, and the players there are some of the best players available. Henry Druschel looked at just how good the WBC teams are, compared to MLB teams.
• David Laurila talked to Jim Hickey about how the Rays pitching development works.
• Matthew Trueblood wrote about the Rays past and future.
• Topkin wrote about the thought behind the Kevin Kiermaier extension, with quotes from Evan Longoria, who also signed a long-term contract with the Rays.
• Rays Radio profiled Johnn Field (with audio), who said that Kiermaier has been a great help to him in camp this year.
• Jake Bensky, here, wrote about how the injury to Rays Rule 5 pick Kevin Gadea will give the Rays a chance to evaluate Gadea in the minors.
• It’s still up in the air whether Brad Boxberger will make it back from injury in time for the season opener.
• Colby Rasmus got back on the field yesterday. Rays Radio had an interview with him after the game.